Enhancing Technical Competency in Higher Education On-the-Job Training: Curriculum Alignment, Educational Approach and School Governance Execution

Technical Competency is the capacity of the trainees to carry out practical activities or processes within a certain technical or mechanical sector with accuracy, skill, and efficiency. This study aimed to determine the variable that predicts the technical competency of on-the-job trainees. A descriptive-correlational research design used with the supervisors, team leaders, chief technicians, and focal persons of the Host Training Establishment (H.T.E.) were the respondents of the study, utilizing simple random sampling techniques and using descriptive statistics. The data describe the level of curriculum alignment, educational approach, school governance execution, and the technical competency of the on-the-job (OJT) trainees. Pearson (r) was used to determine the significant relationship between the curriculum alignment, educational approach, and implementing school governance execution and the trainee’s technical competency. The regression (Linear) analysis was used to find out variables that predict the technical competency of the on-the-job trainees. Result revealed that there was an aligned curriculum to industry-required competency, a very good educational approach in developing the technical competency, high school governance execution of on-the-job training program, and a high technical competency of the trainees when they were in the industry or host institution for OJT. The integration of theory and practice into real-world situations has the biggest impact in the development of the technical competency of on-the-job trainees. It implies that there should be a constant coordination with the industry and TESDA for the changes and general suggestions to increase the learner’s technical proficiency according to the change and rapid evolution of technology.